New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-03
TWO DETECTS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM

The annual report Of Superintendent Draper.
Of the Department of Public Instruction, shows
that our common school system. although "a
complishing great and hcnchccnt results, IS
defective in two important particulars. Let
us sec what these defects are:
!. The aggregate attendance upon the schools
has not increased in proportion to the increase
Of population, notwithstanding the fact that
compulsory education act has been on our
statute books since 1874. There certainly is
food for serious thought in this statement Of
the Superintendent We are fond Of saying
that the only sure foundation for State TO
build upon is popular intelligence. Ignorance
is thc mother Of error" is one of the copy-boolt
aphorsms Yet now when the stream Of
knowledge is flowing with fuller stream than
ever before, the number Of children who come
to sake their thirst ut it is relatively smaller
than it used to bc 1. What is the explanation
The Superintendent reports that the compulsory
education act in its present shape does not &C
complish the purpose for which it was enacted
and he mentions other causes that contribute
10 produce the existing state of things. The
Legislatures Committees on Education can
have no more pressing duty imposed upon them
this session than the one here presented. Lot
the compulsory education act he amended 50
that II shall lccomc in fact an instrument Of
compusion, and let such other remedies he APP
piled as may Ike necessary Ncw-York is strong
and rich enough to afford a good many things.
hut she cannot afford to allow ignorance TO get
tho upper hand with the rising generation.
2. What the Superintendent has to say about
the licensing Of teachers also demands the close
attention of our law makers. Mr.. Draper shows
that the existing license system lacks uniform
ity and is full of defects. P.ima facc teach
crs certificate proves little or nothing. But
on the other hand, it may simply have been
wrung from Il sympathetic board or one In
which "politcs " was determining influence.
1t is sclf-cvdcnt that the present license pol
lev is indcfcnsiblc, that it is fraught with dan
ger to our schools. Under it persons without
proper qualifications are authorized TO teach
and il is difficult to think without a shuddcr
| Of blocihcads being set to mould the plastic
mind Of children. In order that this vicious
license system may be superseded by n wiso
one the Superintendent makes these suggestions
II is recommended that the present system OF granting
licenses stopped at that simultaneous examna
tons be held throughout the state perhaps twice I'm
year. by city supcrlntendcnts and school
upon uniform question papers prepared by this Depart
ment: that the local school authorities hold any addi.
tona examinations which they may desire for the pur-
nose of testing the moral qualities practical
OF the candidates and that they have right TO reject
candidates for any they may think sufficient; that
the examination papers OF such candidates "a may be
proved by the officers be forwarded tho Depart.
ment for examination. and that certificates OF various
grades be issued such OF them have passed the re-
quired standards.
A bill which has the Endorsement of many
experienced educators has been introduced in
the Assembly in accordance with the above
outline, and there would seem to be no valid
reason why it should encounter opposition. 1t
is well calculated to secure the needed reform
Its enforcement would practically bar the
school-house door against incompotcncy. There
fore it ought to commend itself not only 10 the
general public, but to all worthy teachers who
arc jealous of the high vocation to which they
have been called. New-York paid out nearly
$14,OOO,OOO last year for school purposes. II